What should you know about USDA avian influenza?

People who become infected may develop fever, chills, cough, headache, fatigue, or a general feeling of being unwell. Some infections can affect the eyes or cause breathing problems. Symptoms and severity can vary, and ordinary respiratory symptoms do not identify the strain or source by themselves. [Influenza](/conditions/influenza/) describes the wider group of infections; avian influenza refers to viruses associated mainly with birds.

Contact with sick or dead birds, poultry, mammals, droppings, secretions, or contaminated surfaces is more relevant than simply being near someone who has a cough. Untreated or severe illness may involve the lungs, including [Pneumonia](/conditions/pneumonia/).

Avoid touching sick or dead animals and do not handle contaminated material with bare hands. Wash hands thoroughly after contact and follow local public-health instructions for reporting an exposure. If you develop symptoms after contact with potentially infected animals, tell the clinician exactly what happened, when it occurred, and whether protective equipment was used.

Do not consume unwell animals or products that have not been handled safely. Keep distance from others if you are ill, cover coughs, and arrange medical advice before attending a clinic if an animal exposure is part of the story.

Seek urgent care for difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, severe weakness, dehydration, or rapidly worsening illness. Contact a clinician promptly after a relevant animal exposure with fever, cough, eye symptoms, or marked fatigue. Emergency symptoms should be assessed immediately, regardless of whether testing for avian influenza has been arranged.

Explain what animal or material you encountered, how close the contact was, whether skin or eyes were exposed, and when symptoms began. Ask whether testing, monitoring, isolation advice, or public-health notification is needed.